Starfire Angels [Paperback]

Melanie Nilles (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 4, 2009

2011 EPIC Ebook Award Finalist

They've been coming here for thousands of years, using Earth as a sanctuary to escape threats from their own kind. Mankind knows them as angels, and one of them left a child upon her death to be raised as a human.

Raea is now a high school senior, and her life as a human is about to end. The crystal shard she bears is not a pretty pendant; it's a collective of powerful entities who chose her as their Keeper, a protector of one of the four shards that power a machine capable of destroying whole worlds. Those who desire the Starfire's power have sent an agent to find her, but she's too busy evading a nosy reporter ready to exploit her secret and dating a hot new foreign student to notice. Nevermind learning what she really is.

Only one person on Earth can help her, the last person she ever expected. But he's not from Earth. Life as a human would be so much easier.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I adored it. Melanie's writing style is excellent and she draws you in with her fast-paced story development." --The Cajun Book Lady

From the Author

I would like to thank you for stopping on this page.

Starfire Angels is a series inspired by many sources and my favorite to write. Imagine waking up with wings and discovering all you thought about yourself was wrong, then having to learn about what you really are. What if the angels we see in paintings were extraterrestrials? What if they've been coming here throughout human history to study us and and our cultures and occasionally stepping in when they saw us in need? Those are the questions that inspired the story, but the characters took on a life of their own.

NOTE: There is some mild cursing in these books.

Following Forever Dark, a new saga in the Starfire Angels universe begins in Soriel, the first book of Revelations! An expansion from the Dark Angel Chronicles, these stories feature new characters and adult themes.

Dark Angel Chronicles:
Starfire Angels (Book 1)
Broken Wings (Book 2)
Crystal Tomb (Book 3)
Origins of Dark Angel (Book 3.5)
Forever Dark (Book 4)
When Angels Cry - ebook only

Revelations:
Soriel (Book 1)
Deception (Novelette, Book 1.5) - ebook only

Coming fall/winter 2013:
Phantoms (Starfire Angels: Revelations Book 2)
Shards (Starfire Angels: Revelations 2.1) - ebook only

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 188 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (August 4, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1448631343
• ISBN-13: 978-1448631346
• Product Dimensions: 0.4 x 5.9 x 8.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (155 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #670,119 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Melanie Nilles grew up on a western North Dakota cattle ranch and farm and graduated with a degree in business administration from NDSU. She currently resides in central North Dakota with her family, cats, and horse. Her published works include the Starfire Angels series. As M. A. Nilles, she publishes darker, adult science fiction an fantasy, including Tiger Born, the first of her Demon Age series, and Legend of the White DRagon. For updates, visit her website at www.melanienilles.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 69 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars This isn't your typical angel book! August 30, 2010

By Jessica Rhea

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Raea wakes up in a lot of pain to discover she has wings. Her mother, who died when she was very young, left her a pendant which really isn't a pendant, and the boy at school who she thought was weird, turns out to be her soulmate. I am so glad that I've been taking risks on unknown books and unknown authors. Not only am I getting these hidden gems, but I'm getting them for an unbelieveably low price to read on my Kindle. This is one of those books. It was recommended by Amazon to read because of previous purchases, and with the price I paid, I would have gladly paid full price for this book. It was an interesting twist on "angels" and what they "really" are.

33 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars When an Ordinary Teenager Realizes She's not so Ordinary After All August 7, 2009

By Ruth Ann Nordin

Format:Paperback

Raea Dahlrich spent her entire life as a regular, ordinary teenager. Then senior year hits and her entire world changes. She wakes up one morning with wings. It turns out she's an alien from another planet. As if that isn't bad enough, her aunt (who is her guardian) brings her neighbor, Elis, over to help her adjust to her newfound identity.

The problem is Elis is also a creepy senior who keeps to himself, and now he's the one who has to help her adjust to being an alien. But there is a bright side to all of this. Pallin, the new good looking foreign exchange student, is actually paying attention to her. Then again, there is that pesky reporter who is snooping around and wanting to know about Raea's strange marks on her hands. Will the reporter find out Raea's secret? Will Raea end up with Pallin? Is Elis so creepy after all?

Those are the prevailing questions in this book. I really enjoyed this one. The perk (for me) was the humor. Now, this isn't a comedy. In fact there are some serious moments, but the way Raea thinks and her interaction with her friends provides some great light-hearted moments. I liked the reporter's quick thinking. This woman knew her job and did it well. I was constantly amazed at how her mind worked.

In my opinion, this book could be enjoyed by adult women. I know it says YA, and this book will definitely appeal to teens. I mean, who hasn't dealt with the pressures of high school or wondering if the guy likes you or not? So teens can definitely relate to the things Raea goes through. But adults can enjoy the more mature sub-plots. (I think there are some things adults will get that teens won't....) Melanie Nilles has woven in an entertaining, fun, romantic, and sometimes serious science fiction story about a teenage alien girl who just wants to be normal again. Read more ›

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Just OK September 6, 2009

By Cheryl Koch VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

All of Raea's life, she knew she was different. She would have these weird dreams about her parents and a strange world. It was like the events were really but that couldn't be possible as Raea has never been to this place. Raea's Aunt Debbie and her Uncle Mike can't offer any insight to why Raea keeps having these dreams. Besides these dreams, Raea has another secret...she has a pair of angel wings. Her Aunt, Uncle and friends don't even know about her wings.

As if having wings wasn't bad enough, Raea lives in McClarron, North Dakota, a town with a small population. Raea just wants to be a normal girl but it is hard. McClarron, North Dakota seems to be a place of interest lately. Raea's friend Josh is obsessed with strange happenings of a mysterious being known as Dark Angel. No one really knows much about this Dark Angel. A television reporter from Xplorer Channel wants to do a special on the Dark Angel. This could spell trouble for Raea, as this reporter could expose her secrets. Also what is up with the new guy at school, Pallin Montran?

Author Melanie Nilles is a new author for me. I thought she did bring a refreshing look between the genres of sci-fi and paranormal. Starfire Angels wasn't too out there that it wasn't believable but at the same time may a paranormal fan like me think this was a pretty good book. The only reason I say this book is pretty good is because, while I did find Raea interesting and the storyline intriguing, the rest of the characters didn't draw me in and make me interested in knowing them. So a little bit of my interest did slip while reading this book. Starfire Angels did have me flying away in a good way.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Sadly, lacks execution August 30, 2010

By Brian's Gal

Format:Paperback

I enjoy all types of books whether for young adults or older readers. This novel however, is not something I would recommend. The plot was incredibly obvious, the heroine underdeveloped (and sometimes just plain stupid), and it feels as though the author wanted to delve in more to the story, but came up short with: and then this happened. In my opinion (and it's only that) I believe this is a decent first draft, but needs significant work in order to be truly what it could be. There's great ideas, only so-so execution. I don't demand perfection, but I do request a good communication of the story. All in all a two hour read, that I wish I hadn't read.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Starfire Angel was a Surefire Miss August 1, 2011

By CuteMcGinn

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Well, you get what you pay for. While the story had promise and potential, everything was rushed and poorly executed. I was extremely intrigued to find out where the Angels were truly from, however, I was disappointed to see it so underdeveloped. This was a free Kindle download and so I can't complain to much, especially as it was so short.

There were several typos, the dialog was hurried and and some points confusing, and the plot, while promising, became absolutely absurd! The story begins with Raea failing instantaneously for Pallin, the foreign exchange student to which I felt no attachment. Immediately, the creepy and nerdy Ellis enters the story to which I also feel no connection.

Raea quickly learns that everyone in her life has lied to her, her deceased mother and step father, her adopted Aunt and Uncle, and even the little old lady from church that lives next door. Raea wakes one night from a painful nightmare with wings protruding from her back and the adventure begins as Raea slowly discovers her true
origin.

Raea holds the Starfire Crystal, worn as a pendant Raea, apparently, hasn't taken it off since the day her mother put it around her neck. Kind of unbelievable right? Now, there are others after the Starfire Crystal and Raea must guard the crystal with all of her being.

Unfortunately, the good guys and the bad guys are painfully obvious from the beginning. Everything is entirely predictable and that is what makes this read so boring. Raea is an unlikable protagonist who doesn't seem to make the best of decisions. The one, plot twist I didn't see coming was highly inappropriate and handled poorly by Raea. What sort of example does the author hope to set for other teenage girls....

Sort of ridiculous that they can shrink and grow their wings. If it was part of who they are, an appendage then why would they need to grow and shrink it, particularly if it is so painful? It would be like me shrinking away my legs when they aren't in use. Then, there is the reporter that is constantly harassing Raea, a child. How is it plausible that a reporter would be allowed to stalk and harass a teenager like she is the paparazzi?

Overall, disappointing read but at least it didn't consume a lot of my time. It took me days upon days to get through this because it was so boring. I'm sure it was meant to be just an afternoon read. The story really could have used more development. Read more ›